Hennepin Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Hennepin Technical College charges a net price of $10,272/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $41,088. Graduates earn a median $49,460 ten years after entry, $1,100/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 37.4 years — a 20-year net return of -$19,088, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Hennepin Technical College's 37.4-year payback ranks #1,159 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 10% of them, and #34 of 68 in Minnesota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $10,272/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $41,088 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,460 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,100/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,433 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 37.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$19,088 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Hennepin Technical College's own numbers. Net price $10,272 × 4 years = $41,088 total. Median earnings $49,460 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,100 a year of premium. $41,088 ÷ $1,100 = 37.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$19,088. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Hennepin Technical College students graduate with?
A median $11,433 in federal loans among completers, or 23% of the $49,460 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Hennepin Technical College students graduate?
42% finish their degree — 58% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $41,088 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $97,829 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Hennepin Technical College expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $10,272 net price runs $6,549 below the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, and $26,194 less across the full degree.